Amazed & Confused

Some Friday Fun

In between reading through new resources, setting up new confirmations for prayer rooms, thinking up ideas for the new design of the 24-7 site and clearing my work inbox I've had many an email pinging into my personal folder from other members of the DeLoreans band.  Next Friday 7th two very fun occasions collide that are causing all this email enthusiasm: the DeLoreans are playing a rare public gig at the Vestry in Chichester and there's a Birthday costume party at the same said gig for my beautiful best friend Charlotte Terris.  Charlotte is celebrating the close of her third decade (I know doesn't she look fabulous, you'd never know) and has decided there must be a theme and costume hilarity at the celebration.  In true random Lottie style everyone has to come dressed as a character from their favourite, can't live without it, DVD box set.  The DeLoreans have chosen Star Wars!

Emails are currently flying back and forth as the boys haggle over characters and as we're going for the original and best trilogy there's really only one chick who's boots I'll be filling.  Naturally I'll be going for the more covering of her two most famous outfits but I cannot wait to dress up and am tempted to buy rather than hire my costume!  We're also preparing three new songs for Charlotte's entertainment though they will be remaining top secret 'til the night.  The only thing I will say is they will make an 80s/90s medley of gynormously cheesy and fantastic proportions.  Come join us :) xc

Happy Birthday Wardy!

Today is the 37th Birthday of one of the most vital people in the 24-7 community.  Step forward Mr Ward and take a cyber bow.  Pete (or Wardy as he is known among the excess of Pete's in the UK) has given the last four years of his life to serving the 24-7 movement and making sure that we hold together and do things with efficiency and integrity.  He left behind a great, well paying job because God asked him in an uncannily clear way to devote his copious talents to spreading prayer, mission and justice across the globe.  He is irreplaceable as a colleague and invaluable as a friend.  We love him!  Yesterday was our day at the London office so Charlotte and I joined Wardy for a celebratory whisky at the swankiest joint I've ever been to in London!  The cheapest shot of incredibly good scotch was £12 so I thought I'd avoid looking cheap and order a £15 glass from my favourite Islay distillery.  To my great joy they didn't have quite the right measure left so I got my super expensive drink for free!  Hurrah!  Wardy was also gracious enough to allow me a sip of his SUPER EXPENSIVE shot of a Port Ellen whisky that made my eyes pop out of my head.  

It was lovely to be the first to celebrate this marker in his life with him and was only improved by the lovely 40 minute walk Charlotte and I then took around Knightsbridge.  Or at least that's the way I'm looking at it... getting lost and missing your train just sounds embarrassing.  xc 

The Marriage of Mr & Mrs Thompson

There is nothing more enjoyable to celebrate than marriage.  I absolutely love it which is a good thing as I estimate I've probably been to nearly fifty in my lifetime.  Last Saturday, whilst I was dressed in love, I celebrated the Wedding of two dear friends along with a couple of hundred other friends and family.  Doesn't Nat look stunning?  Isn't Ben handsome?  The whole day was a lovely reflection of who they are with colour, creativity, honesty, music, laughter, curry and celebration.  I spent four years living with Ben through University and beyond and since Steve and I married we've had both of them living with us throughout the last year (separately of course).  It's been a real honour to be a part of their relationship from the beginning to now. I couldn't think of a better woman for my lovely Benjamighty.  She is as creative as him but in different avenues.  Where he pushes boundaries, she can bring order and most of all they have the strangest and most in sync sense of humour I have ever witnessed.  It's a match made in heaven :) xc

Don't You Hate it When You Miss a Birthday?

September went by in a bit of a blur for me as the two 24-7 gatherings of the Round Table in London and Home in Southampton consumed my attention.  I did however pause for thought at the beginning of the month and realise that it was nine years since the first 24-7 Prayer Room here in Chichester, England.  It is absolutely amazing that so many years have passed and that such a small idea was used by God to further His presence and purposes in the lives of so many people across the globe.  Sometimes I feel like I get it, I get 24-7 Prayer and all that's happening through it and then I hear about something new, something that God has been doing for such a long time without us ever touching it and I am truly humbled and inspired all over again.  

It's been a privilege to work alongside such friends as Brian and Tracy Heasley who love people with such sacrifice in Ibiza, Andy Freeman who gives so much of himself to see communities strengthened and even more planted in places that need a little light, Phil Togwell who's so committed to authenticity and supporting people that the UK network is flourishing in weird and wonderful ways, Jon Petersen who I think is the wisest man I know and has given so much time to support all us young 'uns who have so much to learn, Kelly Greene... if you don't know about her yet then you need to go here and find out, Charlotte Terris who is most definitely my joy mentor, Lyndall Bywater who dazzles me with her perspectives on prayer, the Arbuthnots who impress me with their faithfulness and generosity and many many many more people I could spend thousands of words writing about.  God has been good to me, to us.  It's an honour to be around so many great people working at something so worthwhile.  

24-7 International is celebrating our anniversary by giving people to opportunity to contribute to all that's happening.  £9 for nine years.  If you would consider giving 24-7 a Birthday gift then click this button and let the adventure continue... xc

 £9 for Nine Years of 24-7 Prayer

Dressed in Love

I had a nice thought today.  I was at the Wedding of Ben and Nat (more on that with videos and photos later!) and the Chichester girls were dressed to impress and looking rather spiffing by all accounts.  As I waited for the Bride to arrive I looked down at my outfit and was taken back by one thought: 

"I am dressed in love."  

Very recently I've realised that one of my love languages is gifts.  They don't have to be impressive or expensive but I love thought, generosity and individuality.  Without realising I had dressed myself in the loving gifts people have given me.  Today I was adorned with a necklace my mother bought me on a beach, a ring my Father gave me from a Greek jewellery maker, a bracelet my sister gave me for my recent Birthday and a gorgeous dress, my Engagement and Wedding rings chosen for me by my husband who has impeccable taste.  In fact the only thing I was wearing that I had bought for myself was my black stilettos and they are the source of another kind of joy (£1 from a car boot sale!!!)  As I prepared to welcome Nat I had a smile on my face because with every gift I felt like I was carrying the giver with me into my day... xc

Going Down in Your Estimation

I am about to go down in your estimation... Unless you're a teenage girl, one of my siblings or hiding a guilty pleasure... Last night I got sick of washing up for hours (being a grown up sucks sometimes) so I decided to split and went to the cinema on my own for a late night showing (being a grown up rocks sometimes).  I was there on my own (another guilty pleasure of mine) with my unlimited card in hand (it makes me feel smug) and entered into a cinema full of people I was probably a decade older than to watch Troy, Gabriella, Ryan and Sharpe strut their stuff in High School Musical 3: Senior Year.  

I have been witness to the first two Disney installments and though I don't think they are amazing achievements in film there is something about them that is really enjoyable.  Thank goodness Steve was away, he would have gone mad and wanted to leave the cinema.  The insane optimism, idealism and breaking into song and dance, not to mention the high pitched female witterings would have been like nails on a black board for my favourite man but it was all I could do not to tap my toes and wish I was alone so I could dance along.  

Tesco Cuisine

Steve embarked on the second leg of the Worship Central tour this morning but not before a little pit stop for breakfast.  One of the larger adjustments we’ve both had to make since inviting people to live with us is finding time to eat and talk together alone.  I never realised how important and intimate our dinner conversation was until it adjusted to the presence of friends.  Steve’s been home for two days since the first leg of the tour and we’ve snatched a few moments here and there to take advantage of the anonymity of a crowded eatery to catch up.  Starbucks yesterday and breakfast this morning were lovely opportunities to share our thoughts.  We’d normally frequent the delicious but expensive Hornet provisions, earthy but hearty Charlie Harpers or the Faux French Café Rouge, but this morning speed was of the essence so Tesco it was with a pit stop at the petrol station on the way.  I know English breakfasts look gross and are terribly unhealthy but there’s nothing more enjoyable than stealing away with someone and unashamedly devouring a fry up!  Long live this particular English tradition…. xc

Here comes the Hen

Hen Nights are funny things.  Before the Wedding celebration of two becoming one comes the celebration of the single life a woman leaves behind. Last Saturday night Rachel Evans and I combined some traditional Hen night activities with an American Bridal shower to give our good friend Nat a Chichester send off.  Nat is marrying our long-term friend Ben ‘Benjamighty’ ‘Irish Chocolate’ Thompson, a fantastic guy that both Steve and I have shared community homes with during our single years.  It’s amazing to see how they’ve grown together and how well they compliment each other.  I’m excited for them about the marriage they’re about to embark on.  Ben is in safe hands with such a strong, intelligent, kind, faithful, fun and adventurous Fiancé.  Nat threw herself into every game we prepared, rose to every challenge and didn’t back down from a single dare.  The walk home through town in an adult size Baby grow was the funniest thing I have seen in 2008.  Bravo honey – you are one brave lady. Xc

The Audacity of it!

I'm starting to lose the will to live.  Everyone who's been patiently waiting for the recordings of the Home gathering to go online will be encouraged to know they'll be available super soon.  The delay hasn't been caused by lack of effort, in fact Charlotte and I have given up our last few working weeks purely to editing, exporting and uploading words of wisdom.  It gets pretty tedious but we're nearly there.

Our lovely friend Pete Greig popped in yesterday to say hi and dream and scheme about ways to embrace and encourage the wildness of the 24-7 Prayer movement.  As I've been sifting through the talks we have available online we chatted about the idea of having a teaching Podcast to help spread the stories, vision and teaching about prayer out across the world.  I'm a bit of a Podcast junky so this greatly appeals to me but if you're reading this I'd love to know if you'd be interested in it.  The 24-7 Prayer Spaces Podcast - a daily devotional led by the Guildford Boiler Room - went down very well and was number one on the iTunes religion and spirituality chart.  If this is a way we can resource people in the way they want then by jove I'll make it happen...

The Cross at Dawn

When my alarm goes off at 6.15am on a Friday morning I never feel good.  The last thing I want to do is leave my warm and cosy bed, but when I wrap up in a hoodie and head out meet Charlotte and Helen to walk and pray through the streets of Chichester I know there is something more worthwhile than sleep.  Last Friday as our walking and talking drew to a close the sun rose behind the cross and it was a beautiful morning: Charlotte headed for the gym, Helen for a jog and I... well a cosy bed is hard to resist when you can cram a good hour of sleep in before you absolutely have to face the day... xc

Double Destiny

I love knowing that not only does God exist but He takes the time to know my thoughts and listen to my prayers. Steve and I are very fortunate and blessed people and have had the opportunity to be part of so many exciting things and dynamic communities. One of the not so positive things of this year has been that we feel like we've both dived in to one to many things. Our lives are very full, at times they're bursting at the seams, but how do you what to stop doing when you love everything and there's no obviously needless thing?

I was journalling such questions during the Round Table last month and I wrote "please tell me clearly... what should I do?" The next morning the amazing Ken 'one-sentence-is-so-deep-it-takes-a-week-to-process' McGreavey was speaking to us and he had a few words he felt he had to share for different people in the room. Turns out one of them was for us...

Download ken_mcgreavey_carla_steve.mp3

Double Destiny - one intwined, one separate but alongside. Could part of why Steve and I are feeling the strain be the balance of together and alongside? We've made a few tweaks in light of it and feel hopeful about the wisdom to come. Good to know that God's in my head and way ahead of me... xc

My Three Video Highlights of the 24-7 Round Table and Home Gatherings!

The Round Table and Home gatherings passed for me in an enjoyable bur of people, inspiration, challenge, hard work, late nights, early mornings and a lot of satisfaction. I've been through my headless chicken phase, my sit back and see what I can learn phase, my wow I'm exhausted and sleeping like a teenager phase, my leave the country and avoid thinking organisationally for ten days phase and now I'm looking back with a smile. Each year after these gatherings I am amazed to be surrounded by so many fantastic people and humbled that God is still letting us be involved on his movement. Three of my highlights are represented in video fashion below:

The Round Table>>>
1. A heart felt but slightly cringe worthy response to Pete Greig's call to er... I can't remember what but it was very stirring: Download Response.MOV

2. Pete's revenge on all the people who could have made his response a greater success but chickened out: Download Revenge.MOV

Home>>>
3. The AMAZING Triibe drummers leading us in prayer and intercession! Download triibe_at_home.MOV

The Luxury of Relaxation

I honestly don't think Steve and I have been this relaxed in about a year. This week and a bit on the Greek island of Rhodes has been absolutely lovely. Thank u Mum and Dad for buying such a beautiful place here and forever more blessing us with cheap holidays in the sun!

Mum, Dad, Lisa and guests left of Sunday giving Steve and I four glorious days of solitude. (Er that'd not yo infer that it wasn't lovely being here with them). We've relaxed, read, swam and just eaten the best Muscles ever! Thursday night will come too soon but this has been an oasis after what was an horribly busy summer. Lots of photos to come soon. Love c x

I love...

I love: the sun, the sound of the sea, no pressure, no work, great food, being surrounded by family, laughing with Steve, impersonating Ariel the Mermaid in the sea, jumping off rocks and the new Trundle home on the Greek island of Rhodes. Holiday is great x c